UK Women's Soccer Hosting NCAA First Round Friday

UK Women's Soccer Hosting NCAA First Round Friday

Jon Lipsitz and company will take on Ohio State at newly renovated UK Soccer Complex.

LEXINGTON, Ky. –The University of Kentucky women’s soccer team has been selected to host its third straight NCAA Tournament game, as the Wildcats will play host to Ohio State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday night at the UK Soccer Complex, it was announced on Monday afternoon.

“Before anything about the game, a huge thanks to (senior associate athletics director for operations) Kevin Saal and (event coordinator) Kate Ballard, and the incredible job that their staff does in putting in the bid,” UK head coach Jon Lipsitzsaid. “Kentucky is known for the way that we host and the classy job that we do. I know that we will do that this weekend. We owe them a huge thanks.”

This is the first time in program history that Kentucky has made the NCAA Tournament for three straight seasons, and also the first time that Kentucky has hosted for three straight seasons.

“If you would have told me before the season started, the injuries that we would have had in the spring, over the summer and during the season, and we would be sitting in this spot, I would have told you that there is absolutely no way,” Lipsitz continued. “I am so proud of this group. When I look at the list of programs around the country with tremendous support and fantastic support that were not selected, I think that says so much about the work that we have done. Without the help of (associate head coach) Michelle Rayner, (assistant coach) Ian Carry and (director of operations) Cortney Wiesler, we would not be here.”

Tickets for Friday’s match against Ohio State are available beginning Tuesday Nov. 12 at 9:00 a.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the UK Ticket Office between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET or by calling 1.800.928.2278.

Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $5 for students (2-18 years old; UK student ID), $3 for senior citizens (65+), with children under the age of two admitted for free. Any UK student presenting a valid UK student ID will be admitted free of charge by checking in at marketing gazebo.

Kentucky is 4-0-1 all-time against Ohio State, with the two sides having last met in2006 in a match that resulted in a 3-0 win for the Wildcats in Lexington. In games played at the UK Soccer Complex, Kentucky is 3-0-0 with wins in 1995,2001 and 2006.

This is Kentucky’s 10th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance with UK looking to get to the second round for the second straight season. In 2012, the Wildcats knocked off UT Martin in overtime to get the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win. UK is 1-8-1 all-time in NCAA Tournament.

Ohio State is 10-6-3 on the season and finished the Big 10 season 4-5-2. The Buckeyes are 2-5-1 on the season when playing away from Columbus. Head coach Jon Lipsitz was an assistant coach for the Buckeyes from 2001-04.

“Ohio State is a tremendous team,” Lipsitz said. “I talked to their coaches last night, and I told them that they were in. They have a tremendously talented team and it seems that every time they have played a great team they have hit the post and completely dominated the match.”

Kentucky is in the Los Angeles Regional, as the Wildcats would match up with No. 2-seeded UCLA or San Diego State in Los Angeles, Calif., in the second round.